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| Lapland theme park is closed down | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A Lapland-style theme park criticised by visitors as "hell" and a "scam" has closed down permanently. | |
| Lapland New Forest opened on Friday on the Hampshire-Dorset border but was criticised by hundreds of visitors. | Lapland New Forest opened on Friday on the Hampshire-Dorset border but was criticised by hundreds of visitors. |
| It is not clear who is behind the closure as trading standards had said it did not have the power to shut it. | It is not clear who is behind the closure as trading standards had said it did not have the power to shut it. |
| Dorset Police said contractors and stall holders were leaving the site. They were called after allegations contractors had not been paid. | |
| One contractor had feared a breach of the peace but no arrests were made, they said. | |
| A big sign outside the park says "Lapland New Forest closed - for more information contact the website". | A big sign outside the park says "Lapland New Forest closed - for more information contact the website". |
| There has been no official word so far from the people running the park. | There has been no official word so far from the people running the park. |
| One of the organisers, Henry Mears, told the BBC on Monday that he blamed "professional troublemakers" for bad reports about the site. He has since been unavailable for comment. | One of the organisers, Henry Mears, told the BBC on Monday that he blamed "professional troublemakers" for bad reports about the site. He has since been unavailable for comment. |
| More than 2,000 people who paid £25-£30 for tickets to the park near Ringwood have officially complained about it. | More than 2,000 people who paid £25-£30 for tickets to the park near Ringwood have officially complained about it. |
| The BBC searches for Lapland park owners | The BBC searches for Lapland park owners |
| Hundreds of people have been calling for the closure of the attraction and demanding refunds, complaining it does not resemble marketing images on its website. | Hundreds of people have been calling for the closure of the attraction and demanding refunds, complaining it does not resemble marketing images on its website. |
| The website became unavailable on Monday afternoon, but was later republished with different pictures. | The website became unavailable on Monday afternoon, but was later republished with different pictures. |
| Trading standards said on Thursday its investigations were ongoing, but it was too soon to say if it was "appropriate" to take legal action. | Trading standards said on Thursday its investigations were ongoing, but it was too soon to say if it was "appropriate" to take legal action. |
| The BBC has tried to track down the organisers of the park since speaking to Henry Mears on Monday, but without success. | The BBC has tried to track down the organisers of the park since speaking to Henry Mears on Monday, but without success. |
| But a friend of Victor Mears, the registered director of the attraction, said the director was "genuinely concerned and upset" about events. | But a friend of Victor Mears, the registered director of the attraction, said the director was "genuinely concerned and upset" about events. |
| 'Floods of tears' | 'Floods of tears' |
| David Bishop told the BBC: "They're going to lose a hell of a lot of money and possibly one of them's going to lose a house over this. | David Bishop told the BBC: "They're going to lose a hell of a lot of money and possibly one of them's going to lose a house over this. |
| "They haven't tried to cheat, they haven't run, they haven't taken no money out of the bank. | "They haven't tried to cheat, they haven't run, they haven't taken no money out of the bank. |
| "He was in floods of tears the other day when I was talking to him because he felt that he had done something wrong to kids." | "He was in floods of tears the other day when I was talking to him because he felt that he had done something wrong to kids." |
| It is not yet clear who is behind the closure of the theme park Lapland park guard quits in shame | |
| On Wednesday, a former security guard at the site, Adrian Wood, told the BBC that people had been "ripped off" and he had been "ashamed to work there". | On Wednesday, a former security guard at the site, Adrian Wood, told the BBC that people had been "ripped off" and he had been "ashamed to work there". |
| He resigned after seeing a family take their mother out of a cancer hospice for what could be her last Christmas, he said. | He resigned after seeing a family take their mother out of a cancer hospice for what could be her last Christmas, he said. |
| He also said staff were subjected to violent outbursts by irate customers, including Santa being attacked and one of the elves being "smacked in the face and pushed into a pram". | He also said staff were subjected to violent outbursts by irate customers, including Santa being attacked and one of the elves being "smacked in the face and pushed into a pram". |
| He too had been punched in the forehead, he said. | He too had been punched in the forehead, he said. |
| The theme park's website had shown pictures of snowy "winter wonderland" scenes and icicles. | The theme park's website had shown pictures of snowy "winter wonderland" scenes and icicles. |
| It also promised real log cabins, a nativity scene, husky dogs and other animals, as well as a "bustling" Christmas market. | It also promised real log cabins, a nativity scene, husky dogs and other animals, as well as a "bustling" Christmas market. |
| Hundreds of people have complained to the BBC since the park opened, saying the animals looked unhappy and huskies looked thin and were chained up in a pen. | Hundreds of people have complained to the BBC since the park opened, saying the animals looked unhappy and huskies looked thin and were chained up in a pen. |
| The RSPCA later visited the site and said the animals were fine. | |
| People said the original website was misleading | People said the original website was misleading |
| Other facilities, including a broken ice rink, were poor, visitors said, describing the site as a "scam", a "joke", "disorganised chaos" and "hell". | |
| Tickets cost £30 for individuals, £25 for each person for families of four or more, and £10 for children under two years old. | Tickets cost £30 for individuals, £25 for each person for families of four or more, and £10 for children under two years old. |
| Some complained they then had to pay more to use some of the facilities once inside the park. | Some complained they then had to pay more to use some of the facilities once inside the park. |
| East Dorset District Council also revealed it had to stop the sale of alcohol on site because an application for a licence had been granted but was not yet in force. | East Dorset District Council also revealed it had to stop the sale of alcohol on site because an application for a licence had been granted but was not yet in force. |
| Unsatisfied customers have been advised by Consumer Direct to consider taking the matter to county court if writing a letter is unsuccessful. | Unsatisfied customers have been advised by Consumer Direct to consider taking the matter to county court if writing a letter is unsuccessful. |